In the women’s singles world number two and top seed Ito, champion at the WTT Contender at the same venue last week, recorded a straight games win over compatriot Satsuki Odo 12-10, 11-5, 11-8 at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall.

With Chinese players opting not to compete in the WTT Middle East hub tournaments because of coronavirus concerns, the second seed in Doha is Cheng-I-Ching of Taiwan.

Ching was on the end of an upset at the hands of Japan’s Hina Hiyata, the runner-up at the WTT Contender, who triumphed 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8.

The third seed Kasumi Ishikawa of Japan was also the victim of an upset today as she lost in straight games to world number 34 Elizabeta Samara, with the Romanian winning 13-11, 11-9, 12-10.

In the men’s singles draw, world number 10 and sixth seed Ovtcharov continued his unbeaten run in the Middle East hub with a comfortable straight games victory against India’s Kamal Sharath Achanta, triumphing 11-9, 11-8, 11-6.

The highest ranked men’s player in Doha, top seed and world number five Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan eased through to the last eight defeating Quadri Aruna of Nigeria 11-4, 13-11, 11-7.

The most dramatic comeback of the day went to Darko Jorgic of Slovenia, who saved two match points as he overturned a two game deficit to knock out second seed Hugo Calderano of Brazil 8-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-7, 13-11.

Third seed Yun-Ju Lin of Taiwan came from a game down to beat Austria’s Robert Gardos, winning 7-11, 11-5, 11-5, 15-13.